SKINS AND HIDES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16153, 6 March 1918, Page 6

SKINS AND HIDES

CHANGE IN REQUISITIONING

ARRANGEMENTS

LOWER VALUES TO RULE,

(SPECIAX TO "TUB TRESS.")

WELLINGTON. March 5. A conference between persons interested on the one Jinnd, :miV members of the Ministry on the other, was liold in the Parliament Buildings to-day to consider certain changes that have boen prejKJsed by tho Imperial Government in the requisitioning arrangements for slipe wool, hides, aud sheepskins. Tho conference was representative of farmer.-, freezing companies, tanners, butchers, Irozt-n meat exporters, and pelt exporters. The Department of Imperial Supplies and tho wool valuers were nlso represented. The value of the commodities affected bv the proposed changes is considerable. The slipe wool exported from New Zealand during the past season and up till the present uate was valued at £1,422,515; the value of the sheepskins purchased under requisition was £(335.2o l J and the value of ii:du» i:.> 13.5)53. I\' o change in price is pro]), sod regarding slipo wool. Much of the slip? wool exported is taken from the skins of she:-;) and lamb* slaughtered for export in tho freezing works, and as the freezing season foL lows hard uprn the shearing, a lot of the slipe wool is shoit, being only partlv grown, and is of correspondingly less value than greasy wool from matured fleeces, but the value of it has not lessened.

The changes that are proposed affect hides Miid skins, ;iud tho changes will mean a reduction in price in' New Zealand. The price of hides lias shown a downward tendency all over the world. The drop is not a serious ono, but it will mean a lessened price here. The 6ainc general statement applies to skins. A year ago there was something akin to speculation in polts, but now they have dropped to v.'hat may bo called their normal war value.

An important point at issue is the elate irom which tho new prices are to operate. If thov are t 3 como into operation at once, loss must bo suffered bv those pDoplo in this country who have bought either live stock or hides and skins on the present ruling values for export. If the reduction should bo postponed until next export season, no such hardships us this would be occalotion of the date on i-ii ° new P r ' ce s are to operate has still to be settled between the Now Zealand Government, as agents for the producing interosts of this country and r°i 111 P or ' a l authorities. The different sections separated into committees to discuss the points in which thov wore specially interested, and tho resolutions of these committees were later submitted to tho conference and to the representatives of tho Government present. After the meeting had disposed of its business, the Prime Minister said that the delegates had adopted a most reasonable attitude, and tnat their expressions of opinion, as shown bv the resolutions, would bo exceedingly valuable to the Government of this country in their negotiations with tho Imperial Go vernment.

A vote of thanks was accorded to the Government on the motion of Sir James \\ llson, who made generous reference to the work that Ministers have had to do during the war period.